Strawberry plant named `Malah`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called `Malah` is a cross between `Dorit` and `Chandler`, and flowers early on a scale of &#34;very early&#34; to &#34;very late.&#34;

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called `Malah`.

BACKGROUND

This new variety was developed from an organized scientifically designated breeding program, carried out at the Agricultural Research Organization, the Volcani center, Bet Dagan, Israel. This new variety originated as a single seedling selected from a seedling population obtained from crosses between the strawberry varieties `Dorit` and `Chandler`. The variety was asexually vegetatively propagated at Bet Dagan, Israel through runners and the propagation ran true.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety `Malah` is able to grow in September and produce fruit starting in November and lasting until summer. The production of fruit beginning in November (Northern Hemisphere, latitude 30-33 degrees) is two months earlier than short day varieties of Fragaria L. The fruit of the `Malah` variety is characterized by good taste, good shape and good size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1: Photograph of the `Malah` variety, illustrating the fruits.

FIG. 2: Photograph of the `Malah` variety, illustrating a cross-section of the fruits.

FIG. 3: Photograph of the `Malah` variety, illustrating the entire plant with foliage, flowers and fruit.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The `Malah` variety was grown in winter, under polyethylene tunnels in Israel. `Malah` is an infra short day variety, which flowers earlier than short day type strawberry varieties. Infra-Short-Day (I.S.D.) varieties are defined as varieties which initiate flower bud primordia under long light regimes of 13-14 hours at the time night temperatures are about 22° C., compared to strawberry types classified as short-day or day-neutral, which do not initiate flower bud primordia under the above-mentioned conditions, thus resulting in early flowering and fruit production. The plants are grown in polyethylene tunnels to prevent malformation of the fruit that can be caused by wind and rain. Flowering and fruit production are not affected by the use of polyethylene tunnels.

This production procedure is utillized in normal agricultural practices by the skilled artisan and does not involve temperature or light control. Plants were stored at 0° C. from January through April. They were then planted in the nursery without further treatment. Runners with plantlets were produced during summer. These young plantlets were collected from the nursery in September and transferred to raised beds. Average temperatures at that time of the year are 30° C. during the day and 22° C. at night. Water and fertilizers were applied through drip irrigation.

An example of an optimum planting date is between September 5 and 15, with the approximate date of flowering on October 5-15, and the approximate date of first fruiting on November 5-15; or if planting is carried out between September 25 and 30, flowering occurs approximately on October 25-30, and first fruiting on November 25-30. Flowering is not induced by chilling, but by natural exposure to short day length (long nights) characteristic of late fall and early winter.

Strawberry plants in general are self-fertile, as is `Malah`; no pollinator is needed as pollination is brought about by insects and wind.

Color readings described herein were taken under natural light conditions and color identifications were made by reference to The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart (R.H.S.C.C.) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

The pertinent characteristics of the present invention are presented in Table 1 and Table 2. Additionally, the variety `Malah` (1) has no tendency toward fruit malformation; (2) disease resistance appears normal in that no particular problematic conditions arose during trials; and (3) the type of bearing is not remontant, i.e. `Malah` blooms continuously during late fall and winter.

Fruit shape of `Malah` is longer than broad, with primary, secondary and tertiary fruit possessing almost similar shape (Table 2). The fruit is of strong firmness with an orange red color (Table 2).

The variety `Malah` flowers two months earlier than known short-day strawberry varieties. A close known comparable variety would be Dorit (Table 1); also see the new varieties mentioned in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,881 (SHARON); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,876 (SHALOM); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,865 (SMADAR); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,869 (Dorit); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,746 (OFRA); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,748 (Virginia); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,747 (NAMA).

Additionally early flowering results in early fruit production. Total Soluble Solids (T.S.S.), percent acidity, aroma evaluation and taste are presented in Table 4, by comparing to the varieties listed in Table 3.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         PLANT CHARACTERISTICS OF `MALAH`                                               MORPHOGICAL                                                                    TRAIT              DESCRIPTION                                                 Botanical Classification                                                                          Fragaria L.                                                 ______________________________________                                         Plant                                                                          1)  Height             16-18 cm                                                2)  Diameter           31-38 cm                                                3)  Habit              Globose                                                 4)  Density            Dense                                                   5)  Vigor              Medium to strong                                        Leaf:                                                                          1)  Length             20-24 cm                                                2)  Width              15-18 cm                                                3)  Green color of Upper Side                                                                         Very dark RHS ca. 147 A                                 4)  Blistering         Medium                                                  5)  Cross section      Concave                                                 6)  No. of leaflets    Sometimes > 3                                           Petiole                                                                        1)  Length             11-14 cm                                                2)  Thickness          4-5 mm                                                  3)  Pubescence         Strong                                                  4)  Green Color        Light RHS ca. 144 B                                     Terminal leaflet                                                               1)  Length/Width ratio As long as broad                                        2)  Shape of base      Obtuse                                                  3)  Shape of Teeth     Rounded                                                 4)  Length             6-7 cm                                                  5)  Width              6-7 cm                                                  Calyx                                                                          1)  Diameter of Primary Calyx                                                                         50-57 mm                                                2)  Diameter of Secondary Calyx                                                                       35-48 mm                                                3)  Diameter of Tertiary Calyx                                                                        30-40 mm                                                4)  Size of Inner Calyx in relation                                                                   Larger                                                      to Outer Calyx                                                             Flower                                                                         1)  Diameter of Primary Flower                                                                        28-30 mm                                                2)  Diameter of Secondary Flower                                                                      22-30 mm                                                3)  Diameter of Tertiary Flower                                                                       25-32 mm                                                4)  Spacing of petals  Touching                                                5)  Petal length       10-15 mm                                                6)  Petal width        11-14 mm                                                7)  Petal length/width As long broad                                           8)  Time of beginning flowering                                                                       Early                                                   9)  Fragrance          None                                                    Stolon                                                                         1)  Number per Plant ca. 18                                                    2)  Thickness          3.8-5.0 mm                                              3)  Pubescence         Medium                                                  4)  Anthocyanin coloration                                                                            Absent or very weak                                     Inflorescence                                                                  1)  Position relative to foliage                                                                      Above                                                   2)  Peduncle length    17-18 cm                                                3)  Peduncle thickness ca, 3 mm                                                4)  Peduncle color     light green                                             5)  Peduncle pubescence                                                                               strong                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The description of `Malah` is based on the test guidelines for Fragaria L. of the International Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties (UPOV). Only characteristics which are relevant for comparing varieties are listed; for example, there are no varietal differences acknowledged in the characteristic "color of lower side of leaf".

The time of beginning of fowering is scaled as from "very early" to "very late". "Very early" is defined as approximately the first week of October under the prevailing conditions, while "very late" is defined as approximately the first week of December. `Malah` is scaled as "early" while `Dorit` is between "very early to early" and "early", and `Chandler` is "very late".

Strawberry plants have dichotome inflorescences, thus producing one primary, two secondary and four tertiary flowers per inflorescence. Flowers of higher order do not normally produce commercial fruit.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF `MALAH`                                                      CHARACTERISTIC                                                                               DESCRIPTION                                                      Time of first ripening                                                                       Early*****                                                ______________________________________                                                Primary Fruit                                                                  1)  Length        48-55 mm                                                     2)  Width         38-45 mm                                                     3)  Shape         Bi-conical                                                   4)  Weight        ca. 40 g                                                     Secondary Fruit                                                                1)  Length        45-53 mm                                                     2)  Width         35-43 mm                                                     3)  Shape         Bi-conical                                                   4)  Weight        ca. 28 g                                                     Tertiary Fruit                                                                               Medium                                                           1)  Length        40-48 mm                                                     2)  Width         30-36 mm                                                     3)  Shape         Cylindrical                                                  4)  Weight        ca 21 g                                                      Band without achenes                                                                         Medium                                                           Unevenness of surface                                                                        Absent or very weak                                              Color         Orange red 43A                                                   Evenness of color                                                                            Uneven                                                           Glossiness    Medium                                                           Insertion of achenes                                                                         Above surface                                                    Insertion of calyx                                                                           Slight basin                                                     Pose of calyx segments                                                                       Clasping or detached                                             Size of calyx in relation                                                                    Very large                                                       to fruit diameter                                                              Adherence of calyx                                                                           Strong                                                           Firmness      Firm                                                             Color of Flesh                                                                               Light red 42D                                                    Evenness of flesh color                                                                      Uneven                                                           Sweetness     Strong to very strong.                                           Acidity       Medium                                                    ______________________________________                                          Note:                                                                          *****The time of first ripening, approximately one month after beginning       of flowering, is scaled as from "very early" to "very late". "Very early"      is defined as approximately the first week of November, while "very. late      is defined as the first week of January. `MALAH` is scaled as early, whil      "DORIT" is between "very early to early" and "early", and "CHANDLER" is        "very late".                                                                   The shape of `MALAH` fruit is not similar to other varieties. There is no      difference in shape of fruit between primary, secondary fruit. The             tertiary fruit differs slightly from the former two. See Table 4.        

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         COMPARATIVE YIELD.sup.1 OF `MALAH`                                             November   December January  February                                                                              March April                                ______________________________________                                         Malah 20       40       120    130    130   130                                Dorit 30       70       100    100    100   100                                Ofra  50       60        60    100    100   100                                Chand-                                                                                0        0        30    150    150   120                                ler                                                                            ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 The time of beginning of ripening for `MALAH` fruit is the end of       November. The time of ripening for "Ofra" (infra short day U.S. Plant Pat      No. 8746) fruit is "very early". The time of ripening for "DORIT" (infra       short day U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7869) fruit is between "very early to early      and "early". The time of ripening for "CHANDLER" (short day U.S. Plant         Pat. No. 5262) fruit is "very late".                                           Note:                                                                          Average yield in g/m.sup.2, in Ramat Hadar, Israel.                      

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         COMPARATIVE FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF `MALAH`                                   T.S.S..sup.a  Acidity.sup.b                                                                           Aroma.sup.c                                                                              Taste                                         ______________________________________                                         Malah 12.0-14.0   1.2      5       Very good                                   Dorit 8.5-9.5     1.0      5       Good                                        Ofra  8.0-9.5     1.0      4       Good                                        Chand-                                                                               6.5-7.5     0.8      4       Slightly acidic                             ler                                                                            ______________________________________                                          Notes:                                                                         .sup.a Total Soluble Solids (Sugars) expresses fruit sweetness and was         determined with a refractometer; for strawberry fruit a T.S.S. of 14.0 is      very sweet, while below 6.5 is not sweet.                                      .sup.b Percent of acidity was determined as follows: 2 cc of juice extrac      was mixed with 20 cc of water. Five drops of phenolphthaleine was added        and the mixture was titrated with NaOH. The percent acidity is calculated      as the quantity of NaOH (cc) × 0.32.                                     .sup.c The aroma value is a subjective expression obtained by tasting,         using a scale from 1 (no aroma) to 5 (strong aroma).                      

What is claimed is:
 1. A new distinct variety of strawberry plant substantially as illustrated and described and distinguished as being able to grow in September and produce fruit starting in November and lasting until summer, with fruit having a good taste and shape. 